£59,649 - £72,049, but could go to £75,000 for the right candidate
University of the Arts London (UAL) is seeking to appoint a Principal Project Manager to lead the delivery of transformative capital projects across its estate portfolio.
UAL is a global leader in creativity, innovation, and invention across the knowledge economy. Formed of six renowned Colleges and four Institutes across London, forming one University, UAL continues to shape the future of art, design, fashion, communication, and performing arts. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, UAL is ranked 2nd in the world for Art and Design for the seventh consecutive year, reaffirming its status as a creative powerhouse. With a vibrant, multicultural community of over 20,000 students from more than 130 countries, UAL fosters an inclusive and dynamic environment that nurtures the next generation of creative talent.
Now is an exciting time to be joining UAL to take up this role. A 10-year Estates Strategy has been developed which will see the delivery of new campuses for London College of Fashion (completed in 2024) and London College of Communication (to be completed in 2027) as well as a period of estate transformation across our existing portfolio that ensures the UAL estate is fit for purpose, sustainable and provides world-class facilities and experience to our students, staff and partners. Following the appointment of new Associate Directors in the areas of Estate Development and Facilities Management in 2024, we are now embarking on an investment in the team that will see the appointment to c.25 new roles in these areas.
UAL’s capital programme to 2030 represents over £100m of planned investment, delivering a series of major projects aligned to the University’s Size and Shape strategy, Net Zero commitments, and long-term operational sustainability. This includes a pipeline of estate transformation and academic growth schemes across the Colleges, alongside a targeted Scope 1 and 2 decarbonisation programme. In parallel, UAL will continue to deliver an annual Long-Term Maintenance programme of circa £9m to preserve and enhance the condition, compliance and resilience of the estate.
Reporting to the Associate Director of Estates Development, the Principal Project Manager leads the planning and delivery of complex, high-value (>£20m) capital projects across the UAL estate portfolio. The role provides senior-level expertise in project and programme management within the Estate Development team, including supporting and managing project managers within the team.
We are seeking an individual with a proven track record of leading large-scale (>£20m) and complex projects from inception to completion across a range of building types. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication abilities, together with strong technical skills developed throughout the RIBA stages of projects. We are looking for individuals that will bring a high level of positivity and energy to the team, with an enthusiasm for UAL’s impact and the role that the estate can play in enabling this.
The role offers a fantastic career opportunity to lead the delivery of transformative capital projects for a world-renowned university and arts organisation with an extraordinary London estate portfolio. The Candidate Brochure can be viewed at UAL - Principal Project Manager.
To arrange a briefing discussion, please contact our retained advisors Nick Coppard (nick.coppard@mrgglobal.com) and Charley McCarthy (charley.mccarthy@mrgglobal.com) at MRG. Applications should consist of a CV and covering letter and should be submitted via our website here.
Closing date for applications is Sunday 21st September 2025.
UAL is committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments for all staff and students to work and learn – a university where we can be ourselves and reach our full potential. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and Staff Support Networks. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, and caring responsibility.